Chijioke Iremeka Otolaryngologists and healthcare specialists who manage conditions involving the ears, nose, and throat have described a recent groundbreaking gene therapy and cochlear implants for both children born with deafness and adults experiencing hearing loss as a significant breakthrough in restoring hearing capabilities. The specialists noted that the latest advancements in gene therapy and cochlea implants are revolutionary for individuals with deafness, while clinical trials have demonstrated the potential for restoring hearing even after many years of deafness, regardless of whether the individual is an adult or a child. The experts referenced recent research published in the peer-reviewed journal, Nature Medicine , which reported that bilateral administration of human OTOF gene therapy seems to be safe.
The study suggested that this approach could effectively treat a rare form of hereditary hearing loss by improving speech perception, sound source localisation, and the overall auditory experience. According to the study, the novel gene therapy designed to target a form of inherited deafness restored hearing function in five children who were treated in both ears, indicating that the children also experienced better speech perception and gained the ability to localise and determine the position of the sound. The study, the world’s first clinical trial to administer a gene therapy to both ears (bilaterally), demonstrates additional benefits than what was observ.
